Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST)

Weapon Program: 

  • Biological

Address: 

- 71 Forsat St., Enghelab Avenue, P.O. Box 15815, Tehran
- Khorasan Research Center, Danesh Street, Mashad

Phone: 

98-21-828-051

Fax: 

98-21-883-8340

E-Mail: 

Entity Web Site: 

http//kavosh.irost.net/english/; http//biotech.irost.net (Biotechnology Research Center)

Affiliated with the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology; designated by the Canadian government in July 2010 as an entity contributing to Iran's proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities or to its development of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons or their delivery systems; designation prohibits Canadian parties from providing goods or financial services to the entity or dealing in property held by the entity; listed by the Japanese government in 2011 as an entity of concern for proliferation relating to missiles and biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons; listed by the British government in 2011 as an entity of potential concern for WMD-related procurement; identified by the British government in February 1998 as having procured goods and/or technology for weapons of mass destruction programs (specifically biological); in 1989, reportedly sought to purchase strains of fungus that produce toxins from the Netherlands, which denied the request.

Oversees the Biotechnology Research Center, which is composed of the Persian Type Culture Collection, a biological repository that holds bacterial, yeast, and fungal strains, and five research departments: Food and Agriculture Biotechnology, Bioprocess and Engineering Nanobiotechnology, Industry and Environmental Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical and Medical Biotechnology, and the Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center; has carried out pilot scale production of Bacillus thuringiensis, a commercial biopesticide that can be used as a simulant for anthrax for the purpose of development and weapon production.

President is Dr. Ahmad Akbari; established in 1980.

Date Entered: 

January 26, 2004

Date Last Modified: 

August 1, 2012